Rear-axle construction



Feb. 5 w24@ A.J. CASALE ET AL REAR AXLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 4. 1920 l l a 'wale and Waarzo Patented Feb. 5, 1224.

ANTONIO J. CASALE BIA, ASSIGNORS TO NATIONAL DFFER PORATION OF DELAWARE.

.AND JOSEPH B. SMFSON, OF TlOli'Il- ABK, DISTRECT Ol? COLUM- ENTIAL MANUFACTURING COD'LPANY, A COR-- nnannxnn CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 4, 1920. Serial No. 28,2772

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that we, ANTONIO J. CASALE and J osEPH B. SIMPSON, citizens of the United. States, residing at Takoma Park, in

the city of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rear-Axle Constructions, oi which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to rear axle constructions Jfor automobiles or like vehicles.

An important object o the invention is to provide a rear axle of the full floating type,

embodying few and simple parts, and so constructed that the axle section or sections may be removed without removing ordisturbingl the Wheel or wheels, whereby the automobile may be towed upon the wheels,

in the event that the axle section should break and be removed, or the dilerential should become deranged.

A Jfurther object or"Y the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is adapted to serve as an attachment, to be readily installed upon the rear axle construction of the ordinary automobile, without materially altering the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and strong coupling means for connecting the axle section with the hub of the wheel.

A further object or the invention is to provide a device' ot the above mentioned character, the parts of which are arranged in a compact manner, and entirely enclosed and thereby protected.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the Jr'ollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a rear axle construction embodying the invention.

vFigure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of iFigure 1, and,

Figure 3 is a similar view 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiec taken on line ment of'our invention. the numeral :i designates a'dierential housing, enclosing a diiferential gear of any well known or preerred type. This differential gear embodies a coupling shaft 6, which is rotatable, and has a longitudinal opening or recess Y, polyvonal in cross section. Secured to each si e of the housing 5 is a tubular casing 8, Vextending outwardly, and projecting into a sleeve 9, which can be rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means, such as by brazing. The sleeve 9 carries a main disk 10, provided centrally with a tube 11, concentric with the sleeve 9, but having a smaller diameter.

The numeral 12 designates a tubular spindle having a rear enlarged portion 13 and shoulders 14 and 15. The enlarged portion 13 of the tubular spindle receives the tube 11 and the` enlarged portion carries a radial annular flange 16, adapted to be secured to the disk 10 by bolts 17 or the like.

rlhe numeral 18 designates the tubular hub of the Wheel, provided upon its outer side with a hub angc 19, engaging spokes 20. Surrounding the disk 10 is the usual brake drum 21, embodying the side portion 22, having an opening to receive the hub 18, arranged upon the inner side of the spoke 20, and secured to the spokes and hub lange y19, by bolts 23 or the like. The tubular hub 18 is provided withinteriorly inclined faces 24, diverging in opposite' directions, and engaging preferably tapered roller bearings 25, engaging the bearing rings or race ways 26,1itted'upon the exterior of the tub ular Spindle 12. The outer race way 26, preierably has screw threaded engagement with the tubular spindle,and after being adjusted thereon, is locked against displacement by a nut 27. l

Extending longitudinally through each tubular casing 8 isv an axle section 28 pref-y erably square in cross section, having its inner end adapted to be inserted within and removed from the opening 7 While its outer end slidably receives a coupling or bushing 29, Figure 2, having an inner opening, square in cross section, and a polygonal exterior surface 30. This coupling or bushin is adapted for insertion within and remove from a tubular portion 31, having a bore 32, Figure 2, polygonal in cross section. This tubular portion is carried by a hub com bined couplingelement and cap 33, having a radial dange 34, having openings for receiving the boltsl. rlhe tubular portion 3l is exteriorly screw threaded for receiving` a cap 35, having a reduced extension 3G, vthe exterior oi' which is preferably formed polygonal, for engagement with a Wrench or other suitable tool, whereby it may be removed.

rlhe tubular casing 8 carrying the disk lO, is relatively stationary, and is connected with the spring mounting of the vehicle in the usual manner. The brake drum 2l may be engaged by any suitable brake device, and for the purpose of illustration We have shown an internal expanding brake 37, arranged therein and operated by a rock shaft 138. The brake drum may also be engaged by an exterior brake band, of any common design.

ln use, should the axle section 28 break or the diiferential break or become de ranged, the cap 36 is removed, Without disturbing the other elements of the Wheel, and the axle section 28 Withdrawn longitudinally from Within the tubular casing 8, the coupling or bushing 29 being Withdrawn with the axle section. It is thus seen that the Wheel Will remain upon the tubular spindle 12 and be free to rotate, for supporting the automobile, when it is being towed or the like.

lt is also obvious that the construction of the device is such that it may be readily installed upon automobiles of the usual construction. The device is in the nature of an attachment. The disk 10 and a tube l1 are present in the ordinary construction, and in applying the invention to the ordinary automobile, the usual sleeve extending into tube ll is removed. The tubular spindle l2, included in the attachment, has its enlarged portion 13 inserted over the tube ll and bolted to the disk l0. The drum 2l, and bra-ke 87 are of the ordinary construction, but the other elements are embodied in the attachment.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herein shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same and various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement or' parts may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim 1s:

l. ln a rear axle construction, a tubular spindle having a portion adapted for insertion upon the tubular extension or' a disk, means to hold the spindle upon the extension, a wheel embodying a tubular hub mounted upon the tubular spindle, a hub coupling embodying a cap portion secured to the hub and a tubular portion having a bore Which is polygonal in cross section, a bushing removable ,vithin said bore and having its exterior polygonal in cross section and having a bore which is polygonal in cross section, a cap detachably engaging the tubular portion ot the hub coupling, and an axle section extending through the tubular spindle and through the bore ol the bushing.

:2. ln a rear axle construction, a tubular spindle adapted for connection with the axle housing, aivheel embodying a tubular hub rotatable upon` the tubular spindle,,a hub coupling secured to the hub and having a tubular portion provided With a bore Which is polygonal in cross section, a bushing having an exterior polygonal in cross section for insertion within the bore of said tubular portion, said bushing having a bore polygonal in cross section, an axle section extending through the tubular spindle and having a portion polygonal in cross section for insertion Within the bore of the bushing, and a cap carried by the tubular portion oi the hub coupling.

In a rear aXle construction, a tubular spindle, a tubular hub rotatable upon the tubular spindle, a hub coupling permanently secured to the hub and having a tubular portion, an axle section extending through the tubular spindle and tubular portion, means for connecting the axle section and tubular portion to permit of the rotationot the tubular portion by axle section and to permit of the longitudinal removal of the axle section Without removing the hub coupling from the Wheel` and a cap carried by said tubular portion. l

ln testimony whereof We aiiix our signatures in presence of tivo Witnesses.

ANTONIO J. CASALE. JOSEPH B. SIMPSON.

Witnesses FREDERICK A. GENAU, ULRrc T. MnNeER'r. 

